In the summer of 2000, a handful of entrepreneurs and civic activists met at the Loa Bar in downtown New Orleans and decided to invest in a business plan competition they hoped would ignite an economic spark in a city suffering from an exodus of young professionals.

Some consider that moment the unofficial launch of an "entrepreneurial ecosystem" that has grown over time to support the founders of hundreds of startup companies emulating the success coming out of Silicon Valley and the nation's other tech hubs.

Earlier this month, several members of that original Loa group were among more than 50 current and former business and civic leaders to participate in an event looking back at the history of the New Orleans startup scene and planning where it goes next in the latest era of uncertai

See Full Page